Interview with: Fussy Baby

Meet the Mom Behind Fussy Baby!

Who is Fussy Baby? Where are you located?
Fussy Baby is a place online for parents of fussy, or 'high-needs' infants; babies with colic, reflux, a food sensitivity or allergy, or a fussy temperament. We are located in Vancouver, Canada, although the site could be run from just about anywhere!


How did you come up with your business name?
'Fussy Baby' is a good catch-all; some babies aren't necessarily 'colicky' for instance, but still seem to cry or seem grumpy a good bit of the time.


When and why did you decide to start your own business?
I have had the entrepreneurial bug ever since I was a child. My dad has a home-based business, and I loved hanging out in his office. My favorite activity was to sort through his office garbage can and look for little treasures I could use for my own business...discarded pens, old invoices, and best of all, those carbon copy receipts!

Before having kids, I was on track to becoming an accountant. I worked in accounting for several years, but it definitely left me wanting more. I loved the independent aspect of the job, but the creativity component was definitely lacking.

My second child, Sammy, was born in November 2006. He was a handful right from the beginning. Our daughter, 2.5 at the time, had been a fussy infant, but nothing prepared us for Sammy. When he wasn't sleeping or eating he was crying or screaming. He could not be put down, and had major feeding and sleeping issues. We were completely sleep deprived and at the end of our ropes.

Along with our doctors and midwives, we discovered the dairy I was consuming was bothering him, and cutting that out of my diet helped. But he didn't truly outgrow his fussiness until about 8 months old.

During the early days with Sammy, especially, we searched everywhere for information on what could be wrong with him, and how we could cope with it. We felt very alone, and very confused. I started www.fussybaby.ca when Sammy was about 5 months old, partly as a way for me to deal with what we were going through, and partly to help other parents going through the same thing.


What motivates you to keep your business going?
I often think back to how hard it was for us when Sammy was younger, and I so badly want others to know they're not alone. I scout out the latest info, research, and experts on colic and infant fussiness, so sleep-deprived parents don't have to scour the Internet like we did. Remembering what it was like for us is enough motivation to keep me obsessed with the site!

How do you advertise your business and which methods worked best?
No advertising yet, just PR. PR is free, and reaches a much larger audience than whatever advertising I could afford at the moment! For instance, I'm excited about being on an upcoming piece on CBC national radio - you can't buy that kind of publicity on my budget!


How do you juggle family and work at home?
It's very difficult! I work about an hour during Sammy's morning nap, an hour during his afternoon nap, and several hours after the kids are in bed. So besides being a full time stay at home mom to 2 kids, I spend about 25-30 hours a week working on the site. It doesn't feel like a hardship though, because I love doing it. My daughter probably watches too many cartoons, but I do make a big effort to spend lots of time with the kids, and we get outside with friends every day.


What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
Be prepared for the fact that it can take a while to get the word out about your business and start making money. Do something you are absolutely passionate about, because there will likely be many times you want to give up. And being your own boss, and often your only employee, you're going to be the only one to motivate yourself. Find a group of like-minded women to share the ups and downs with.


Visit Fussy Baby at: www.fussybaby.ca

What's New at Fussy Baby:
There is a new feature on the site that I am really excited about. I have found that many of the baby products on the market are made for 'easy babies'. Products that normally soothe and calm infants often aren't stimulating enough for fussy or colicky babies. The article lists some great products that I believe can really help parents cope with their high-needs infants.

Visit the new feature at: www.fussybaby.ca/topproductsforcolic.html